Woman given triple-talaq for oversleeping, days before LS passed bill
The Lok Sabha passed the triple talaq bill on Thursday, making the Islamic practice of instant divorce a criminal offense. However, despite it and the Supreme Court ban earlier this year, another woman was given triple talaq on Tuesday, for oversleeping. Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also mentioned her case while introducing the bill in the Parliament. Read on to know more.
Woman was given triple talaq because she had overslept
A resident of Rampur's Ajimnagar, the 21-year-old woman's husband, a driver, gave her triple talaq on Tuesday because she overslept. After the law minister's mention and media attention, instead of cancelling the divorce, the local panchayat ordered the couple to remarry, but in accordance with the rituals of triple talaq, which allows a deserted wife to remarry only after observing iddat and halala.
What is iddat and halala?
According to Islamic law, a woman, once given triple talaq, can remarry her husband only after she has observed iddat and halala. Iddat requires her to live in separation after divorce for at least three months. However, this period can vary depending on circumstances. Halala entails her to marry another man, consummate the marriage and divorce him before remarrying previous husband.
Banning triple-talaq, making it a criminal offense just a start
According to Hindustan Times, the panchayat's decision was in agreement with the families involved and the maulvi. Meanwhile, the woman wasn't allowed to speak to the media. Her husband declined to comment. The local police/government didn't intervene in the matter either. Banning triple talaq or making it a criminal offense is just a start. The real challenge, that of successful implementation, lies ahead.
